Winthrop University (WU)

“Medium-sized” Winthrop University in South Carolina “is a public university, which is reflected in its diverse student body, but it has a private university feel in terms of the small size of classes, the caliber of the faculty, and the beauty of the campus.” There are many programs and options here. Business and education majors are especially popular. As at most schools, professors are “hit or miss.” Some are “almost never available.” Many others are “easy to approach” and “passionate about what they teach.” “I’ve wanted to clap at the end of classes before because they’ve been so phenomenal,” gloats one student. Complaints include registration. “Getting the classes you need is a struggle.” Some of the required general education courses “could be thrown away,” too. One student tells us, “the only downfall to our school is financial aid. Almost everyone I know, including myself, has had problems with them.” Administrators “like to dance around questions without actually answering them,” and “it is very common for students to be passed (circularly) from one department back to another when trying to resolve an administrative problem.”

“There are significantly more females than males” here. “Many students come from small towns,” but “diversity is something Winthrop can brag about.” “The majority of the students leans slightly toward the right politically and, as is typical for the South, most are religious in some way,” reflects a sophomore. “However, that’s not to say that you won’t find some extreme liberals and atheists on campus.” “The typical student is a laid-back Southern kid” and is “mildly preppy” but there is a little bit of everybody—“from hip-hoppers to punk rockers, frat guys to computer nerds.” “From artistic individuals to cookie-cutter education majors, everyone has their own dynamic.” “It’s probably the least cliquey campus I have been to,” relates a senior.

“There’s nothing to do in the city of Rock Hill” but the bustle of Charlotte, North Carolina is a mere “20 minutes away” if you have a car. Back on the “very nice and relaxing campus,” there is an “awesome” fitness center. The men’s basketball team has won several conference titles in recent years and “brings everyone together.” There is also “a cultural event requirement” that requires students to attend a few events each year. Many students seem to like it. “Thursday nights are big nights” for the party scene, but “weekends are pretty dead,” because “most students that are from the state go home for the weekends.” Extracurricular activities “are a must if you want to have a social life.” Fraternities and sororities are relatively popular, and the students involved in them are “obsessed.” “The cafeteria food is definitely lacking” and there is “an overpopulation problem” here. Winthrop is growing, which is nice and all, but “something needs to be done about housing and parking if you’re going to invite that many students.”